When a lion pride is taken over by new male individuals, the existing males are typically evicted or killed by the incoming males who want to establish dominance over the pride
. The new males often kill the cubs sired by the previous males to bring the lionesses back into estrus more quickly so they can sire their own offspring
. The evicted males usually leave the pride and become nomads, often forming coalitions with other males to increase their chances of eventually taking over another pride
. This nomadic life is dangerous and challenging, with many young males not surviving past their first years outside the pride due to competition, starvation, or attacks
. Male lions generally stay in a pride for only about two to four years before being replaced by new males
. Older males that can no longer father cubs are routinely ejected to make way for younger, stronger males
. The takeover involves intense fighting, territorial marking, and vocalizations by the new males to assert control over the pride and its territory
. In summary, when a pride is taken over by new males:
- The old males are evicted or killed.
- The new males kill existing cubs to ensure their own genes propagate.
- Evicted males become nomads, often forming coalitions.
- The pride’s social and territorial structure is aggressively reestablished by the new males
